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Ergotism and Humans

Ergot Poisoning was rampant during the Middle Ages due to the constant consumption of infected grain.
The symptoms would usually vary in people that suffered Chronic Ergotism.
In the Middle Ages it became known as 'ignis sacer' (Holy Fire) and St. Anthony's Fire.
The disease caused constriction of blood vessels, which caused some extremities to die and fall off.
One of the more recent cases of Ergotism was in 1951 in a small French village.
Ergotism had major influences on history; it started the Salem Witch Trials and the hunt for 'werewolves' in the 1800s.
A chemical in Ergot, Ergotamine, is used as a treatment for migraines today.

Symptoms of Convulsive Ergotism include hyper-excitability, belligerence, ataxia (staggering), lying down, convulsions and back arching.
Symptoms of Gangrenous Ergotism start in the hind legs where lameness occurs (after about 2-6 weeks of ingesting contaminated grain), pain, stamping of feet, and coolness of the affected areas.
If grain is still consumed feelings of pain will stop and indented lines between infected tissue and normal tissue will appear.
Limbs are then sometimes lost.
spontaneous abortions can occur and milk production stops.
Death occurs when animal is constantly fed infected grains.

There aren't any medications that get rid of the disease.
Victims (both people and animals) have to eat other foods; no more infected grains, and have to wait out the disease.
Sometimes pain pills can be given to ease suffering.
In animals Gangrenous tissue cannot be removed or treated.

A solution of about 30% potassium chloride is poured over grain, and the Ergot infected grain floats to the top where it is skimmed off.
Crops are rotated and fields are plowed deeply to prevent germination of the fungus.
Even with these precautionary measures traces of Ergot has been found in some foods, and proven to be toxic.